Black diamond Bear Valley, CA
Vortex drops 742 vertical feet over 1,721 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 36° about 950 feet below the top. That's steeper than 89% of the 4,740 black diamond runs we've measured in North America, and the 22nd steepest of 74 named runs at Bear Valley. It faces north.
Facing north at an average 26°, Vortex gets about 39% of the winter sun that flat ground at Bear Valley does, December through March. That's shadier than 98% of the runs we've measured, and the 6th shadiest named run at Bear Valley. Its top sits at 7,430 feet.
Shaded snow stays colder and drier, so it holds powder longer after a storm and is slower to crust over or turn to slush in spring. Shading from ridges and trees isn't counted yet.
under 25°25–35°35–45°45°+ Hover to follow the line on the map.
Measured by ZRankings from 1-meter USGS lidar. Steepest pitch is the steepest stretch of about 50 vertical feet along the skiable line. Run lines come from OpenStreetMap and can sit a little off the skied path.